Potential expansion of Saffron Walden Community Hospital will be addressed

A review looking into the potential expansion of Saffron Walden Community Hospital onto land next to the site will be carried out this year.

Representatives from the West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (WECCG) have told town councillors that an estate review would look into using the spare land next to the hospital for further expansion.

Both Dr Alice Hodkinson, Vice Chair of WECCG and Uttlesford GP Representative, and Toni Coles, Director of Development and Strategy, spoke at a full town council meeting about the body’s role in the area last week.

During the talk, Cllr Doug Perry called for expansion at the town’s hospital, based on Radwinter Road.

He said: “I keep hearing that there’s no space at Saffron Walden Hospital. I can’t understand why we don’t have access to expand further.”

Cllr David Watson echoed the need for expansion and said: “There’s an enormous amount of land next to Saffron Walden hospital.”

Dr Hodkinson, a Saffron Walden GP, said it made sense to have a GP surgery there especially as the current ones are “heaving at the seams.”

The representatives reassured town councillors that potential expansaion onto the land would be addressed by September this year.

Rumours that the hospital may close were thrown out by the representatives at the meeting.